AllFresh GPS, the committed group of Michigan apple growers based in Comstock, MI, announced industry veteran Ed Klein as its new sales manager on Nov. 12.

Prior to joining AllFresh, Klein was director of sales for Fresh Express (Chiquita) where he worked with retail and distribution partners to build consumer-focused apple programs.

Klein began his grocery career with Stouffer Frozen Foods in 1989. He then transitioned to fresh produce with the Chicago company Acosta (PMI Eisenhart). At Fresh Express, he was heavily involved in the Defense Commissary Agency program.

For more than 80 years Edinburg Citrus Association has specialized in the Rio Star variety and its “Tropic Moon” label has been in the forefront of the Texas citrus market since 1932. In all its years of existence, ECA has tested its red grapefruit to be certain it meets its standards of sweetness before it’s packed in the recognizable “Tropic Moon” carton.

Citing cutting-edge farming methods that include total drip irrigation and precise input management, Jon Watson, president of J.C. Watson Packing Co. in Parma, ID, said the 2014 season has “the best-quality crop of Spanish Sweets I’ve seen in a long time.”

Watson, third generation in a family operation that celebrated its century mark in 2012, said challenges presented themselves, but “we actually have a very good crop, not a small crop, and best quality I’ve seen across the board.”

Procacci Bros. Sales Corp. has unveiled new Sesame Street-themed packaging for its popular Santa Sweets authentic grape tomatoes. The new packaging and label, which features Sesame Street’s lovable red character, Elmo, is Procacci's first contribution to the Produce Marketing Association and Sesame Workshop’s nationwide eat brighter! initiative.

Since transitioning to new ownership a year ago, Fresh & Easy has reinvigorated its brand and its stores with the aim of fulfilling a new mission: saving customers time by making fresh and natural food more available and affordable.

The NPD Group just released its 29th annual Eating Patterns in America report, and it found that one of the single biggest changes in U.S. eating patterns over the last five years is an increase in meals eaten at home. Side Delights Steamables are well-positioned to take advantage of this trend to satisfy Americans who want fresh, nutritious food.